JP4376461B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an information processing device (1), including a user control unit (2) for the selection of units of primary information to be processed and functions to be invoked. The device includes storage means (3) for storing the primary information, and secondary storage means (10) for storing a user profile. The device furthermore includes communication means enabling the user profile to be exchanged with persons carrying a similar device.

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus as defined in the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to an information processing method as defined in the preamble of claim 7.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The apparatus described above is widely known. For example, CD players or MP3 players process digital audio files so that they can be heard through headphones or loudspeakers. Since processing and playing audio files is the main function of the player, the audio file constitutes the main information of the player. MP3 players have digital memory for storing such audio files, whereas CD players have removable storage means or individual CDs. As another example, an organizer or personal digital assistant (PDA) allows entry, storage and retrieval (retrieval) of digital data such as addresses and reservations. Since such digital data relates to the main functions of the organizer or PDA, it constitutes the main data of these devices.
[0003]
The primary data processed by this known device often reflects aspects of the owner's personality. For example, a music file represents a matter related to the owner's preference, and an address or reservation represents a matter related to the owner's work or a circle of acquaintances.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that allows users to exchange information regarding user preferences with other people regarding the main functions of the device so that they know common preferences or concerns.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To this end, one aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus as claimed in claim 1. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method as described in claim 7. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
[0006]
The information processing apparatus defined in claim 1 enables a user to store a profile that the user likes. For example, the owner's music preferences can be represented by a tree structure consisting of music categories such as classical, jazz and pop, and sub-categories such as baroque music, bee-bop and rock. It is evaluated or rated accordingly. In addition, audience ratings of composers and performers can be included in the user profile. Such user profiles are well known from Internet sites that recommend music to each visitor based on the visitor's profile. As another example, the other storage means may include information on the hobby of the owner and circles by acquaintances. User profiles can be exchanged with people who have similar devices by means of communication (communication) between both devices or devices.
[0007]
In an embodiment of the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the matching means automatically compares a user profile stored in the other storage means with a user profile received from a similar device. Therefore, the owners of the device do not need to investigate the similarity between these user profiles.
[0008]
In an embodiment of the present invention as set forth in claim 3, the notification means constitutes an intermediary means for continuously comparing the user profile received from the similar device with the user profile stored in the other storage means. When a strong similarity between the user profiles is detected, the user is informed about this great similarity. For example, if someone is carrying a similar device nearby and has a similar music sense or preference, the MP3 player owner can be notified and both can get to know each other and exchange audio files It becomes. As another example, the PDA owner is notified when someone is carrying a similar device nearby and the user profiles stored on both devices indicate a shared hobby or common acquaintance.
[0009]
In an embodiment of the present invention as set forth in claim 4, the informing means may indicate a relative position of the similar device including a similar user profile. This makes it easier to locate the user of similar devices among a large number of people. Such a form of notification may have a direction and / or distance displayed, for example, by an LED or diagrammatically.
[0010]
In an embodiment of the present invention as set forth in claim 5, the matching means shows similarity on a graphic display, for example by listing common hobbies and music categories preferred by both users. Thereby, the tendency of the similarity is quickly revealed to the user.
[0011]
In an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim 6, the device comprises profiling means such as a software agent. Such means monitors the main information unit in use of the device, i.e. during processing and where the processing function of the device is active. From these observations, the profiling means derives profile information stored in the other storage means. For example, by monitoring information related to which audio file is being played on the MP3 player and usage related information obtained with the audio file, such as composer, performer, category, etc., the user's musical preferences In addition, a user profile representing the preference can be generated. This user profile may also contain extensive information regarding the use of the device. Such information includes the date of acquisition by the owner, the total time since becoming the property, information about the (other) person who has acquired the main information unit, the date or city (city) of the acquisition, audio There is a frequency of playing a track. After using this device for hours or minutes, a history of personal information is built that can be valuable in helping to contact other people. The device according to the invention can play the role of bringing together or bringing together people with similar tastes or preferences or common acquaintances.
[0012]
The present invention is particularly suitable for digital audio players such as MP3 players or PDAs. The present invention can also be applied to, for example, a GSM telephone, a remote control (control) device, a (portable) television receiver, a video recorder, and the like.
[0013]
A device that is informally called “lovegetty” and has four pre-defined states and communicates with other lovegetties that are within 10 meters or less is known. . When two selected love getties with the same state approach each other, both of them flash and begin to ring.
[0014]
These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples based on the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The figure shows a user control unit 2, a main storage device (primary storage device) 3, a graphic display 4, an interface 5, a microprocessor 6, an audio processor 7, and an auxiliary storage device (secondary storage device) 10. 1 shows an MP3 player 1 including a matcher 11 and an alerter 12. The user operates the MP3 player 1 with the control unit 2. The control unit 2 sends a command to the microprocessor 6. The microprocessor 6 receives a command from the control unit 2. The microprocessor 6 transmits and receives digital audio information and additional data via the interface 5. The microprocessor 6 stores and retrieves digital audio information in the main storage device 3 and digital data in the auxiliary storage device 10, transmits graphic information to the display 4, and transmits digital audio information to the audio processor 7. The audio processor 7 converts the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal. This analog audio signal can be further processed by headphones or an amplifier (not shown). The matcher 11 takes out digital data from the main storage device 10 and communicates the digital data with the microprocessor 6. The matcher 11 also controls the alerter 12.
[0016]
The MP3 player 1 receives the digital MPEG-3 audio file and descriptive (child) information via the interface 5 and stores them in the main storage device 3. In response to a user command, any one of the audio files in the main storage device 3 is reproduced through the audio processor 7 and can be listened to by headphones, for example. For example, the descriptive information including the title of the audio file, composer and performer (or singer) is displayed on the display 4 when the corresponding audio file is being played.
[0017]
These audio files can be obtained from a CD player, the Internet or a similar MP3 player. Audio files can also be sent to similar MP3 players via the interface 5.
[0018]
The owner of the MP3 player 1 can store a personal user profile in the secondary storage device 10. Such a user profile can be created and prepared in a personal computer, and can be derived via the interface 5. Alternatively, this user profile can be registered (entry) by the user control unit 2. Such user profiles include personal ratings for various music categories or categories, composers, performers, and the like. Furthermore, the interface 5 is adapted to communicate or communicate with similar devices within a limited area, eg having a radius of approximately 10 meters, for example by means of electromagnetic waves or infrared signals. When the presence of a similar device is detected within the range, the user profile is read from the auxiliary storage device 10 and transmitted to the similar device. When a user profile is received from the similar device, it is relayed to the matcher 11. The matcher here compares the received user profile with the user profile stored in the auxiliary storage device 10. The matcher 11 presents a signal that, for example, emits an LED or emits an electronic sound, when both user profiles detect similarities, for example, each owner indicates that they like Mozart music. The alerter 12 is controlled so that a short survey of the similarity is made and presented on the display 4. If the user profile is comprehensive and the transmission band is small, only a part of it, for example the highest rating category or composer, can be transmitted first. If sufficient similarities were found for these partial user profiles, the complete profiles could previously be exchanged.
[0019]
In an improved embodiment, the receiving part of the interface 5 has a directional antenna that allows the relative position of other devices to be measured (or determined) and displayed on the display 4, for example by means of a graphic display of arrows.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows another MP3 player as an embodiment of the device according to the invention. Reference numerals appearing in both figures indicate the same components. The MP3 player of FIG. 2 further includes a clock mechanism 8 and a profiler (profile creator) 9. The profiler 9 monitors the use of this device, and records, for example, the audio files stored in the main storage device 3 and how often they are played back. This data and the descriptive information are used to determine which music category, composer and performer the user likes most. Functions activated by the user while playing an audio file, such as voice volume and loudness, can be used to determine whether a user likes a particular piece of music as background music or music to listen carefully. It can be.
[0021]
The resulting user profile is stored in the auxiliary storage device 10. Information from the timekeeping means 8 determines whether the user's preference is due to the time of the day or whether it changes over time, for example extensive information about the use of the device, such as frequency of use or total time. Used to generate In this way, the profiler 9 generates a large amount of profile information that the user does not need to register so firmly.
[0022]
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, changes and modifications can be effected within the scope of the inventive concept. Thus, for example, the main storage device 3 and the auxiliary storage device 10 can be distinct pieces of one large storage device (eg, flash memory). The profiler 9 can be a single individual circuit or can be implemented as a software function of the microprocessor 6. The auxiliary storage device 10 may be removable so that it can be processed on a computer or inserted into a similar device. In addition, the device may include identification means for identifying the user, for example by registering a code or analyzing a fingerprint, in which case the auxiliary storage device 10 stores the user profiles of multiple users of the device. Can be configured to store. It is also possible to provide a user-operable function for operating or canceling communication with similar devices via the interface 5. It is also possible to control the interface 5 in such a way as to allow reception of user profiles from other devices whose user profiles are not transmitted to similar devices.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an MP3 player 1 as an embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another MP3 player as an alternative embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 MP3 player 2 User control unit 3 Main storage device 4 Graphic display 5 Interface 6 Microprocessor 7 Audio processor 8 Time measuring device 9 Profiler 10 Auxiliary storage device 11 Matching part 12 Alerter

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus,
First storage means for storing information data to be processed in the information processing apparatus;
User-operable means operated by a user of the information processing apparatus, and when the information data to be processed and / or the function of the information processing apparatus to be activated is selected, input from the user User operable means for receiving;
Second storage means for storing user profile information collected over a given time for the user and derived based on the information data to be processed selected by the input received from the user;
Communication means for receiving at least part of further user profile information from the further information processing device;
In an information processing apparatus having
The user profile information is further activated by the user during playback of an audio file, including a change in audio volume or loudness information among the functions to be activated selected by the input received from the user. Derived based on function ,
An information processing apparatus characterized by that.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a match between the user profile information and the further user profile information received from the further information processing apparatus of the further user via the communication unit is determined. And the matching is a degree of similarity between the user profile information and the further user profile information, and the information processing apparatus executes a specific process based on the matching An information processing apparatus configured to be configured as described above.   3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising notification means for generating a notification signal when the match exceeds a predetermined threshold value.   4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the notification means is also configured to indicate a relative position of the further information processing apparatus including a direction and / or a distance. Processing equipment.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus further includes a presentation unit for indicating information, and the matching unit includes the similarity in the presentation unit. The descriptor information is configured to include a category of the information data. The information processing apparatus is characterized in that the descriptor information indicated by the presenting means includes a category of the information data.   6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is selected by an operation by the user and is to be processed and / or activated. An information processing apparatus further comprising profiling means for deriving the user profile information from a function and storing the user profile information in the second storage means.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information data includes an audio file.   8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an audio reproduction apparatus configured to reproduce the audio file stored as at least part of the information data in the first storage unit. apparatus.   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising interface means for exchanging the information data between the information processing apparatus and the further information processing apparatus. A method of processing information using an information processing device, the method comprising:
Storing information data to be processed in the information processing apparatus in the first storage means;
Receiving the input from the user who operates the information processing apparatus when selecting the information data to be processed and / or the function of the information processing apparatus to be activated by the user operable means;
Storing in a second storage means user profile information collected over a given time for the user and derived based on the information data to be processed selected by the user;
Receiving at least part of further user profile information from the further information processing device by means of communication;
In a method comprising:
The user profile information is further activated by the user during playback of an audio file, including a change in audio volume or loudness information among the functions to be activated selected by the input received from the user. Derived based on function ,
A method characterized by that.

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